The field is down to 16 after a weekend of shocks and breakout efforts. Iowa and Iowa State both survived, Alabama’s offense keeps rolling without Aden Holloway, Texas is the round’s most plausible Cinderella, and top teams like Duke look potent but not quite the same with key players limited. Below is a concise take on each Sweet 16 squad: how they got here, what they do best and who’s next. Times Eastern.
1. Arizona Wildcats (No. 1 West) Tournament: beat Long Island 92-58; beat Utah State 78-66. Why they’re here: Depth, coaching and free-throw aggression — Arizona averaged 26.3 FT attempts per game and drew 72 free throws across two NCAA games. Size and shot creation let them survive off nights from the perimeter. Up next: vs. Arkansas (Thu, 9:45 p.m., CBS)
2. Michigan Wolverines (No. 1 Midwest) Tournament: beat Howard 101-80; beat Saint Louis 95-72. Why they’re here: Length and versatility, anchored by 7-3 center Aday Mara and playmakers Morez Johnson Jr. and Yaxel Lendeborg. Elite defense and strong 3-point shooting give multiple paths to win. Up next: vs. Alabama (Fri, 7:35 p.m., TBS/truTV)
3. Duke Blue Devils (No. 1 overall East) Tournament: b
